Remote control toy vehicle



May 19, 1953 J. M. JAcKsoN 2,638,712 REMOTE: CONTROL.- TOY VEHCLE FiledFeb. 2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/GJ.

May 19, 1953 Filed Feb. 2, 1949 J. M. JACKSON REMOTE CONTROL ToyVEHICLE.v

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ttorneyS H Patented May 19, 1953 REMOTE CONTROL TOYVEHICLE John Maxwell Jackson, Eastcote, England Application February 2,1949, Serial No. 74,217 In Great Britain February 4, 1948 (Cl. i6-210)Claims. 1

The present invention relates to steerable toy or model vehicles, suchas road vehicles or ships,

of the type in which the movement of the steerable wheels or rudder maybe controlled from a remote point by air pressure, such as by a pistonor collapsible bulb, which is connected through a exible tube to airpressure actuated steering `means on the vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a steerable toy or modelvehicle of the above type 'which is propelled by an electric motorincorporated in the vehicle, the operation oi which may bevremotelycontrolled by a switch or the like whereby the starting, stopping, andif desired, the speed and reversing of the motor, may also be effectedfrom the remote point.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved steeringmechanism for the vehicle which is of simple construction yet positivein action; Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedremote control device which 'is of simple and compact construction andwhich enables the steering of the vehicle and the control of the motorto be easily eiected. A still further object is to provide an improvedconnection between the remote control unit and the vehicle whichincorporates the air line and electric conductors in a unitarystructure.

These and other objects oi the invention will be more clearly apparentfrom the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, anembodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. l shows a view of an apparatus according to this inventioncomprising a toy car (shown in section from the side), a remote controldevice (shown in section), and the unitary flexible connection of whichthe end iittings arel shown slightly separated from the complementaryconnections on the vehicle, and remote control device, the fittingadjacent the oar being shown in `side elevation and the other fittingbeing shown -in section from the front.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the car shown in Fig. l with the bodyremoved and the rear portion of the chassis sectioned along the line A-Ain Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the steering mechanism with theplate |5 removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the bridge connectoron the vehicle as seen from the front.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rear end of the chassisand the associated domed cover plate, the rear axle and propeller shaft`having been omitted.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of the remote controldevice, with the switch actuating member raised from its normal positionand the retaining cover plate omitted.

Fig. 7 is a section through the remote control device along the line B-Bin Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings; the motor car comprises a main chassis |00,which may conveniently be made as a moulding, for instance in asynthetic resinous material or alternately it may be made as a metal diecasting. In the front end of the chassis |00 is a transverse recess IUIto accommodate the steering mechanism which consists of a toothed wheel|02, rotatable about a vertical pin |03 secured to or formed integrallywith the chassis. The toothed edge of the wheel |02 is out away over twoarcs |04 to permit movement of the wheel |02 about the pin |03 withinthe limits imposed by tWo xed abutment pins carried by the chassis |00.Carried by the wheel `|02 and at diametrically opposite points thereonare two crank pins |07 spaced from the pin |03 by substantially the samedistance as separates the abutments |05 from the pin |03. The crank pins07 form two movable abutments. The xed and movable abutments |05, |01are urged towards one another by the spring |06. The two toothedsegments of the periphery of the Wheel |02 engage respectively twotoothed members |08, which are pivoted on pins ilS carried by lugs ||0formed on the chassis |00, and carry the steerable wheels on stub axlesprojecting from the members |08. The wheel |02 and members |08 are soassembled that the wheels I are in a position corresponding to themaximum turning of the vehicle, in one direction, when the fixed andmovable abutments U5, I 01 are closest together as shown in the drawing.

The abutments |05 and |01 extend some distance above the Wheel |02through a cover plate 5 which is formed with two arcuate slots ||6 topermit movement of the abutments |01 to rotate the wheel |02 about thepin |03. An inatable bag Il which is made of natural or syntheticrubber-like material and which, when deflated, is of a flat shape, liesbetween the pairs of abutments |05 and |01 and extends along the foreand aft axis of the car. The bag is formed with a neck ||8, the end ofwhich connects with a socket H9 formed in a bridge piece |24 adapted tobe secured by screws |23 to the top ends of two pillars |25 (of which atleast one is made of insulating material) carried by the chassis |00.The socket H9 serves for the connection of a flexible tube, the oppositeend of which is connected to means, located in the remote controldevice, for creating an air pressure, which pressure is transmittedthrough the flexible tube to inflate the bag thereby moving the movableabutments |61 away from the fixed abutments |65 to turn the steerablewheels to the desired position. When the air pressure is released, thespring |66 moves the abutments |01 and the toothed wheel |62 in thereverse direction..

The chassis |60 has a recess |2| to house a small electric motor |22which may advantai geously be of generally cylindrical shape and of thetype in which the field is created by' a pe'rrnaA nent magnet. In theconstruction shown the motor |22 is of a type requiring only twoelectric connections and these are brought out from the motor to thescrews |23 which are provided with axial bores to form electricalconnector sockets.

The motor is retained in the recess |2| by the lug. |26 on the bridgepiece |24 bearing upon the top thereof when the bridge piece is securedin position.

The motor |22 has ashaft Ii carrying a pinion |64, which meshes with agear wheel |162 vcarried by a propeller shaft |63, the rear end of whichcarries a pinion [6T meshing. with a crown wheel |66 on the rear axle|65 carrying the driving wheels' |12. The forward end of the propellershaft |63 rotates in a bearing formed by a hole |64 in the casing ofthemotor |22, andthe rear end of the propeller shaft rotates in a bearingformed by a channel |13 in the underside of the chassis and a retainingprojection H4 on a domed cover plate securedI to the underside of thechassis by screws (not shown). The domed portion of this cover plate il'together with a hemispherical recess |35 in the chassis, form a gear boxin which the crown wheel |65 and pinion |61 are positioned. In thehemi'spherical portion |15 is fitted a segment of a disc |16 formed witha bearing portion Ill which engages the centre of the driving axle |65,the driving axle being held in position by another segment of a disc |73fitted in the domed portion of the plate lll'. The ends of the axle |65extend through vertical` guide slots |69 vcut in the chassis portionofthe vehicle. With the arrangement described, the rear axle can tiltabout the central bearing I'VI without the crown Wheel |66 disengagingfrom the pinion |61. rlhis is due to the fact that the crown wheel movesabout an are having its centre corresponding to the centre of thepropeller shaft.

The chassis and associated mechanism described may be tted with a body||2 of any desired design, the body having an aperture or apertures toallow the itting |3l'y to' be attached to the air and electrical socketscarried by the bridge piece |24.

The vehicle is connected to the remote control device through a unitaryflexible connection comprising a ilexible tube |33, made of rubber orlike material through which the air pressure created in the remotecontrol devicer is applied to the bag in the vehicle, and two electricalconductors |36, |31 by which the electric current is fed to the electricmotor |22.. One of these conductors |36 passes through the bore of thetube |33, and the other conductor |3l|I is constituted by two or morewires braided around the external surface of the tube |33.

At eachof its ends the assembly of the nexible tube and conductors isprovided with a connector fitting |3| moulded from an insulatingmaterial. Thisj tting has a tubular spigot |32 in iiuid connection withthe tube |33 and a pair of contact pins |34, |35 electrically connectedto the conductors |36, |31 respectively. The contact pins |34, |35 mayconveniently be constructed from split pins to which the ends of theconductors are soldered, the fitting |3| being moulded around the end ofthe tube |33 and the split pins after the' latter have been connected tothe conductors. rIfhe tubular spigot |32 is adaptedk to t tightly withinthe socket I3 on the vehicle and for this purpose the tting isconveniently moulded of a resilient plastic material, such as polythene,and the spigot may be slightly tapered. The contact pins |34-, |35- arespaced corresponding to the spacing between the sockets |23 and are solocatedA with respect to the spigot |32 that, when the'contacts |34, |35are inserted into the sockets |23, the tubular spigot |32 engages withinthe socket IIS.

An identical tting |3| at the other end ofthe tube assembly is similarlydetachably connected to the remote control device.

The remote control device shown in Figs. 6 and 'l consists of a casing|45 the upper end of' which encloses a flexible rubber bag |'4|, theopen end of which is closed by a plate |42 having a. central hole orsocket |43. Slidably mounted within the lower part of the casing |43- isa plunger |44 having an internal rack |45 which engages a pinion |45,carried by a shaft which can be turned` by a steering wheel'. |4. rThebag |411 and plate |42 form a compressible chamber which when the handWheel |41 is turned, is compressed by the plunger |44 to force airthrough the air tube |33 to the bag to steer the vehicle. The plunger|44 may, if necessary, be movable in guides or may be bonded to theflexible bag |4|,.

The plate |42 is formed with a central cylindrical part |48 surrounding`the hole |43. A switch mechanism for cont-rolling the starting, stoppingand reversing of the electricmotor |22 is mounted in a recesssurrounding this` part |48. The switch mechanism comprises twostirrupshaped spring contacts |45 which are connected to supply leads|50 for connection to an external battery or other source of electricsupply (not shown). The central portion of each spring |49 is bent asindicated at |5|, the leads |50 being 4attached at this point. Theseparts |5| are each adapted to be engaged by two of the four lugs |52formed on the under surface of a switch member |53 whichy has a handle|54 projecting to one side beyond the casingr |46. The switch member |53isl held in position by a cover' plate |55 of insulating material whichis apertured centrally at |56 to give accessv to t-he socket |43 for theair connection andv also provided with apertures |51 to receive thecontact pins |34 on the fitting |3I. When the ntting |3| is inserted inthe remote control device with the con-tact pins |34 extending throughapertures |51 and the spigot |32 tightly tting the socket |43-, theYpins |34 lie in diametrically opposed recesses |50 in the part |48 andproject into the path. of the springs |49. When the switch member |53licsin its central position, as shown in Fig. 7, the springs |49` areboth out of contact with` the contact pins |34. By turning the switchvmember |53 in one direction. or the other, one of the springs |49 makescontact with oneof the pins i3d and the other spring |45 makes Contactwith.l 'the other pin |34, the polarity oi the connections dependingupon the direction in which the switch member |53 is turned. In this waythe polarity of the current supplied to the motor |22 can be reversed,and the switch member |53 therefore serves both for starting andstopping the motor '|22, and also for reversing its direction ofrotation.

The'casing |40 may be provided with a clamping bracket |59 through whichextends a clamping screw |39 by means of which the remote control devicecan be secured to a support, such for example as the back of a chair.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understoodthat various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, morethan two conductors may be provided in the unitary flexible connection,either for controlling the operation of the motor or for controllingauxiliary devices on the vehicle such as a horn or lights. Furthermore,the remote control device may be constructed with a compartment adaptedto accommodate the battery for supplying current to the motor. Moreover,although the invention has been described with reference to itsapplication to a toy road vehicle, it will be clear that it is equallyapplicable to other toy vehicles, such as ships or aerol.

planes, which are propelled by an electric motor and steered by uidpressure actuated means.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a model vehicle having wheels at least one ofwhich is movable for steering the vehicle, an electric motor mounted onthel vehicle and connected to drive at least one of s'aid wheels,steering actuating means on the vehicle comprising a exible bag adaptedto be infiated by air pressure, said bag being positioned between afixed abutment on the vehicle and a crank abutment constructed in theform of a crank pin carried by a toothed wheel or segment which ispivoted to the vehicle, the iniiation of the bag causing the crankabutment to be -1 moved away from the fixed abutment and thereby to turnthe toothed wheel or segment, spring means for urging the crank abutmentand fixed abutment towards one another, gear means for transmitting themovement of the toothed wheel or segment to the steerable wheel. airconduit means on the vehicle leading to said flexible bag, a pair ofelectrical connectors mounted on the vehicle and connected to saidmotor, a remote control device comprising a closed chamber, means forreducing the volume of said chamber to generate air pressure, an outletconnection from said chamber, `an electric switch incorporated in saidremote control device, and a pair of electrical connecting meansassociated with said switch, a flexible tube provided with connectorfittings at each end for connecting with the air and electric connectingmeans on the vehicle and the remote control device respectively, andelectrical conductors extending between the electrical connectors of thefittings at opposite ends of said flexible tube.

2. A steerable toy vehicle, wherein the steering actuating meanscomprises a wheel-like member having at least part of its peripheryformed with teeth, said wheel-like member being mounted for part-rotarymovement on the vehicle, a crank pin carried by said wheel-like memberand displaced from the axis thereof, a fixed abutment on the vehicleadjacent said crank pin, a spring for urging said crank pin towards saidfixed abutment, a exible bag positioned between said crank pin and saidfixed abutment and adapted to be iniiated by air pressure, and atoothedmember engaging with the peripheral teeth .of the wheel-like member,said toothed member being connected to actuate the steering means of thevehicle.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the toothed wheel carriestwo crank pins at diametrically opposite positions, and wherein twofixed abutments are provided, the bag being positioned between theabutments and crank pins.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein two diametrically oppositeportions of the toothed wheel are cut away to permit the fixed abutmentsto be positioned on approximately the same circle as that on which thecrank pins move when the toothed wheel turns.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a spring is provided to urgeeach pair of fixed and moving abutments close together, the flexible bagbeing of elongated form and being positioned to lie between the twopairs of abutments so that, when inflated, it moves the crank pins awayfrom the associated xed abutments against the Iaction of the spring.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the toothed peripheralportions of the wheel are geared with teeth formed on members arrangedat each side of the vehicle and movable about vertical pins, each of thesaid members carrying one of the steerable wheels.

7. In combination, a remote control device comprising an air chamber,means for reducing the Volume of said chamber to generate air pressure,an outlet from said chamber, socket means positioned around said outletand adapted to receive electrical Contact pins, a flexible tube providedat its end with a connector fitting provided with means for connectingthe flexible tube to said outlet and with electrical contact pinsadapted to enter said socket means when the fitting is connected to saidoutlet, a member rotatable around said outlet, electric contacts carriedby said member and adapted to engage with and disengage from theelectrical contact pins of said fitting, when arranged in said socketmeans, in dependence upon the position of said rotatable member.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air chamber comprises aiiexible bag, a ram member for compressing said bag, and a rotatablemember for actuating said ram.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outlet from the airchamber is formed in a cylindrical member of such dimensions that thecontact pins on the fitting lie in grooves formed on the peripheralsurface of the cylindrical member, when the fitting is connected to theremote control device, the switch comprising contacts movable aroundsaid cylindrical member to engage with the contact pins lying around thesurface thereof.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein two stirrup-shaped contactsare provided which are adapted to be respectively connected to the twopoles of the electric supply source, said stirrup contacts beingdisposed in substantially diametrically opposite `positions with respectto the cylindrical member and being actuated by a handle rotatable aboutthe axis of said cylindrical portion whereby, when the handle is movedto a limiting position in one direction the stirrup cont-acts engagewith the two contact pins and when the handle is moved to its otherlimiting position the stirrup contacts are reversely connected to thecontact pins, the stirrup contacts

